Looe RNLI volunteers assist a yacht experiencing steering problems

This lunchtime, Tuesday 14 July, a yacht which was on passage to Looe, contacted the Looe harbour master to say they were experiencing problems with the yacht’s steering and were drifting in a strong offshore wind out in Looe bay. The harbour master contacted Dave Haines, our Lifeboat Operations Manager, who went out in his own boat to offer assistance. Dave found the yacht approximately one and a half miles out in Looe bay with four persons on board. Dave attempted to tow the yacht, but with the yacht’s rudder stuck hard to port he made little headway. With the yacht skippers’ approval Dave updated Falmouth Coastguard on the situation and paged our RNLI volunteer crew to launch the charity’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat to assist.

Our crew pagers sounded at 12.49 pm and shortly after the Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II helmed by Matt Jaycock with crew Clive Palfrey, Victoria Thomas and Aaron Rix headed out of the river. Arriving on scene the crew took over the tow from Dave Haines and made their way back to Looe. As they approached Looe our crew were concerned about manoeuvring the yacht with a disabled rudder into the narrow river entrance, so they requested the assistance of Looe’s D Class inshore lifeboat. At 1.19 pm helm Brian Bowdler with crew Jack Spree and Alastair Pearn launched the Ollie Naismith to assist. Both inshore lifeboats took the yacht to a mooring on West Looe Quayside from where the rudder could be inspected. With the casualty yacht safely moored, both lifeboats returned to station where they were cleaned, washed down and refuelled ready for their next service.

Shore crew today were head launcher Nick Pope, with tractor drivers Paul Barley and Eric Candy.

END

Notes to editors

Photos:

· Looe RNLI Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II establishing the tow
Photo credit RNLI / Dave Haines

· Looe RNLI Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II and D Class Ollie Naismith with the casualty yacht
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

· Looe RNLI Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II and D Class Ollie Naismith with the casualty yacht returning to Looe
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

Information

· Re-established as an inshore lifeboat station in 1992, Looe RNLI operate two inshore lifeboats
An Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II and a D Class Ollie Naismith

· For further information on Looe RNLI Lifeboats please visit our website www.looelifeboats.co.uk

· Looe RNLI Facebook page www.facebook.com/LooeRNLI

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Ian Foster, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Looe Lifeboat Station, on 07902 753228 or [email protected] or [email protected]

or Amy Caldwell, RNLI Regional Media Manager, on 07920 818807 or [email protected]

or Marianne Quinn, RNLI Regional Media Officer, on 07786 668847 or [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.